GMB: councils must budget for pay rise » Central government » 24dash.com

A leading trade union is to write to local authorities across the country urging them to agree a pay rise for their workers at least in line with inflation in 2009 following a protracted row over wages this year.

The GMB said it believed councils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland could afford a decent pay increase next year, urging them to include higher pay rates in any budgets being set now.

The union also announced that workers will receive a 2.45% increase in forthcoming pay packets even though a dispute over pay this year has not been formally settled.

Talks are due to be held at the conciliation service Acas.

Unison's national officer Heather Wakefield said: "We have a strong case for a fairer deal for local government staff, which we are taking to Acas for arbitration, and we are hopeful for an early decision."